1
as in careful
hard to please
he was shocked when his normally exacting supervisor complimented him on a job well done
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in rigorous
not allowing for any exceptions or loosening of standards
the prep school's exacting standards for admission
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort
the new recruits had to adjust themselves to the exacting discipline of military life
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4
as in challenging
requiring much time, effort, or careful attention
writing will always be an exacting task
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in demanding
to ask for (something) earnestly or with authority
every war inevitably exacts the greatest sacrifice possible from some of the nation's best and brightest
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in imposing
to establish or apply as a charge or penalty
vowed to exact a heavy fine from any hockey player engaging in such outrageous behavior on the ice
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in extorting
to get (as money) by the use of force or threats
that loan shark can be counted upon to exact repayment of his loan by whatever means necessary
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of exacting
Rory Smith, The Athletic, 19 Jan. 2025
By his fourth season, the team had a losing record and players were complaining that Bradley was too exacting.
—Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 17 Dec. 2024
Jaime Catmull, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025
Playing, winning, is exacting its toll in the form of pain.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 27 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for exacting
Adjective
Alexander-Arnold is not unique in being held to a different, more exacting standard than the vast majority.
—Rory Smith, The Athletic, 19 Jan. 2025
By his fourth season, the team had a losing record and players were complaining that Bradley was too exacting.
—Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 17 Dec. 2024
Verb
The dual pressures of addiction and burnout are exacting a steep toll on America’s entrepreneurs and executives.
—Jaime Catmull, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025
Playing, winning, is exacting its toll in the form of pain.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 27 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for exacting
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exacting
Adjective
-
These concerns underscore the need for careful consideration of privacy rights when deploying such technology.—
Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report,
Fox News,
15 Mar. 2025
-
Hot sleepers will love the coolness of this duvet cover, as well as the hotel feel of its crisp corners and careful stitching.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
That’s the cost of such rigorous theming: Since you’re supposed to be inside a game, anything that gets in the way of that illusion is banned.—
Todd Anderson,
New York Times,
5 Apr. 2025
-
To receive autism certification through Autism Double Checked, staff at participating properties go through rigorous training on how to best support their autistic guests, such as how to adapt a menu for a picky eater and how to avoid strongly scented cleaning products.—
Jamie Davis Smith,
AFAR Media,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Third, operational command of Kamikaze planes is difficult because results cannot be evaluated with any accuracy.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2025
-
Instead, the major drama comes in the form of Ivy’s corruption by her acting coach, as Ivy gradually goes method and becomes as difficult to work with as Marilyn was (one of this musical’s many meta moments).—
Christian Lewis,
Variety,
11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Assessing type A skills of collaboration solely from resumes can be challenging.—
Ming-Chien Chyu,
Forbes.com,
4 Apr. 2025
-
And the small launch business has proven to be economically challenging.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
4 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Everest's unpredictable weather and difficult breathing conditions make this one of the most physically and mentally demanding climbs in the world.—
Samantha Stutsman,
People.com,
22 Mar. 2025
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The series showcases the inspiring journeys of three young women (two drivers and a team owner) navigating demanding careers in professional motorsports.—
Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal,
Parents,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
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These executive orders have addressed a broad range of policy areas, including imposing tariffs that has escalated trade tensions and provoked retaliatory measures from foreign governments.—
Hannah Parry,
Newsweek,
13 Mar. 2025
-
It could be argued that imposing retaliatory tariffs on electricity exports might encourage American states to seek more cost-effective energy alternatives, particularly those based on fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas.—
Ali Hoss,
Forbes,
13 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The final contestants from Group C — Nessy, Mad Scientist Monster, and Yorkie — did not follow that particular decades trend, opting to jump around more in time instead.—
Lauren Huff,
EW.com,
10 Apr. 2025
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Javadi, in particular, seems unsure whether this experience has discouraged her from pursuing a career in emergency medicine.—
Ryan Schwartz,
TVLine,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Some venues, such as London's fabric, encourage a phone-free environment through guidance rather than strict enforcement.—
John W. Dean,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Apr. 2025
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First, monitor how Asian hubs respond to the surprising success of Singapore’s stricter regime - will Hong Kong double down on flexibility or pivot toward stability?—
Francois Botha,
Forbes.com,
6 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Exacting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exacting. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025.
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